Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-03-05
i CHAMPION OF GOVERNMENTAL
TYRANNY.

The San Francisco Chronicle IS living
example of the truth Of the proverb,
Hypocrisy is the only tribute which vice
pays to virtue" 1t pretends to great
friendship for the people; for the weak ell
ements of society. Like Uriah Heap, it is
so humble and, like Uriah Heap, its
garb of humility is simply the disguise I'M
der which it may safely aid any scheme of
rapacity and plumber in the promotion Of
which it may find employment. Recently
the House of Representatives refused to
make an appropriation of two millions of
dollars claimed by the Central Pacific
Railroad for carrying the mails and NUM-
tions of war over the leased lines operated
in connection with the main line of road.
This refusal was justified upon the theory
that some time in the year 1896 or 1897
the road would owe the Government a
large amount of money, growing out of a
loan of credit under the Acts Of 1862 and
1864. 1t was not contended by any mem
Der of the House of Representatives that
the Indebtedness Of the road to the Govern
ment was due or that the obligation would
mature prior to the future date already
named. 1t was simply and openly claimed
that at future date-that is, about ten
years hence-an obligation against the
road would mature The Government,
however, employed the road in the per-
Torrance of certain services for which it
owed under the contract, and the implica-
ton of contract immediate payment. The
question as to whether the obligation due
from the road to the Government had cur
rent or future maturity has long since been
adjudicated The claim of the Govern
ment to the repayment of the credit ex-
tended to aid in the construction of the
road, prior to the maturity of the bonds,
has been the subject of Judicial examina-
ton in the Supreme Court of the United
States, and judgment has been rendered by
that august tribunal in favor of the COM
pany. The House, however, in utter dis
regard Of all the principles Of commercial
honesty, decided to so modify the terms of
the agreement between the company and
the Government that the payment of these
100000 which the Government had in
its hands, should anticipate the maturity of
the obligation due from the company to
the Government
And now comes the San Francisco
Chronicle to declare that the Government
of the United States, that is to say the peo-
pie of the United States, in their aggre-
gated capacity, are not bound by the rules
of common or commercial honesty, which
rest upon men in their individual capacity );
that, whereas it is scoundrelism in an indi-
vidual to repudiate the obligation of a con-
tract, it is virtue in an aggregated per-
sonality called Government. The essen
tial character of men may always be deter
mined by the theories congenial to their
understanding. We may, therefore, reason
ably conclude that the advocate Of scoun-
drelism in government is personally and
privately honest through coercion. The
person whose conception of honesty in
dealings between an individual and the
aggregated personality called Government
finds apology for the Reputation of the
obligation of contract because the physi-
cal power to do SO exists, would probably
take advantage of any physical or legal
power to practice the same vice IN his own
private conduct. The standards of Justice
in his own mind are low; he is therefore
not conscious of the enormity of wrong
when committed by one who can do so
without legal accountability. Hence, we
find the Chronicle saying There is no
legal obstacle to prevent the Government
from compelling the carrier to transport
mails. troops, and the like, without any
compensation at ALL" The Chronicle,
standard Of honesty as revealed by this
wretched apology, resembles that of Lord
Give, who, when convicted of having
robbed the Indian Princes, replied lien
tIemen, when l remember my oppOrtu-
mites, I marvel at my moderation" There
being no legal obstacle to the commission Of
a greater act of tyranny and oppression
the Chronicle thinks that the railroad com
pany should be consoled for the loss of two
millions by the reflection that it was no
four or six, or some other greater sum.
This line of ethics runs en- all-fours witt
the high-minded, chivalrOus highwayman
who robs stage-load Of passengers Of thei
purses, and tenderly leaves to some lad,
her watch, moved to merciful generosit,
by the discovery that it was the gift of he
dead mother The honest fellow coul'